JP2006018659A - Electronic device and method for switching operation mode of electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device capable of conducting switching between a plurality of operation modes with the electronic device connecting to a host even when the electronic device is connected to any host. <P>SOLUTION: In switching the operation mode, the ground condition of a detachment detection terminal CD1 serving as a data interface and notifying the host 102 of a self-detachment state is changed by temporarily turning off a relay 110 by a signal control section 108 and by turning on the relay 110 again. The state of the electronic device 101 observed from the host 102 is demonstrated as a virtually detached state. In a 16-bit PC (Personal Computer) mode, the signal control section 108 turns on the relay 110 as well as a self-holding relay 111 to ground the terminal CD1 and a terminal CD2. In a CardBus mode, the relay 110 is turned on and the self-holding relay 111 is turned off. The terminal CD1 is grounded and the terminal CD2 is connected to a terminal VS1. The self-holding relay 111 holds the present operation mode regardless of power supply suspension from the host 102. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device and an operation mode switching method of the electronic device, and relates to an electronic device having a plurality of operation modes as a data interface connected to a host, in particular, a PC Card defined by US Personal Computer Memory Card Association (PCMCIA). The present invention relates to a 16-bit PC card standard and a CardBus standard included in the Standard standard, and an operation mode switching method of the electronic device.

  Note that an electronic device referred to in the present invention is an electronic device having a data interface and having the ability to add a function to another device. For example, it refers to a device such as a PC card, a wireless LAN card, or a flash memory card that can be connected to a personal computer.

  The host referred to in the present invention is an apparatus that has the ability to connect the electronic device and use the function of the electronic device. For example, it refers to a device such as a personal computer to which a PC card, a wireless LAN card, or a flash memory card can be connected.

  In addition, the operation mode referred to in the present invention refers to the state (mode) of a device that indicates which function is enabled for a device having the ability to selectively provide two or more types of functions by switching a switch or the like. Refers to that. For example, in a wireless LAN card that can provide two types of operations, a high speed operation and a power saving operation, by switching a switch, it indicates two types of operation states, a high speed operation state and a power saving operation state.

  Although the present invention mainly refers to the operation mode switching of the interface of the electronic device that can provide any of a plurality of data interface functions by switching the operation mode, the scope of application of the present invention is limited to that. For example, the switching of operation modes such as a high-speed operation mode and a power saving mode, a 2.5 GHz mode and a 5 GHz mode, an encryption mode and a non-encryption mode is also targeted.

  The 16-bit PC card interface standard and the CardBus interface standard included in the PC Card Standard standard are complementary standards that define interfaces having completely different characteristics. For example, a 16-bit PC card standard interface has the advantage of low power consumption, but has the disadvantage of low transmission speed. On the other hand, the CardBus standard interface has the advantage of high transmission speed, but has the disadvantage of high power consumption. These two standards have the same physical shape, but are completely incompatible with each other because the signal transmission methods are completely different. Therefore, when making an electronic device compliant with the PC Card Standard standard, it is necessary to use these two standards in accordance with the application and platform.

  Therefore, most of the commercially available electronic device products that comply with the PC Card Standard standard comply with only one of these two interface standards. However, there are electronic devices in which an interface has a plurality of operation modes corresponding to two interface standards. However, since the signal transmission methods of the two interface standards are completely different, in order to switch the operation mode of the interface even in such an electronic device, the electronic device is temporarily removed from the host, the operation mode is switched, and then again. I had to follow the steps to reconnect to the host.

  The technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-319209 “PC Card and PC Card Input / Output Control Device capable of Switching Specification Mode” in Patent Document 1 has been made in view of such problems. According to this prior art, the electronic device is connected to the host by changing the definition of the interface terminal step by step during the operation of the interface using a special procedure defined between the electronic device and the host. It is possible to switch the operation mode of the interface without disturbing the operation of both the electronic device and the host in the state.

As a result, it is possible to realize an electronic device compliant with the PC Card Standard standard, which is capable of switching the operation mode of an electronic device that has not been realized once until it has been removed from the host while it is connected to the host. I can do it now.
JP 2001-319209 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to transmit a special signal that deviates from the PC Card Standard standard with the connected host when switching the operation mode. Therefore, in order to realize this, it is necessary to implement special technology (special signal transmission / reception processing function) on the host side, and when connected to a normal host that does not have such special ability, The device could not switch operating modes.

  In order to realize a general-purpose operation mode switching mechanism that can be applied to any host regardless of the technique of Patent Document 1, a state equivalent to a state in which an electronic device is removed is created for the host. On the other hand, if the electronic device is in the same state as it was removed, some hosts stop supplying power to the electronic device. In order to realize the mechanism for returning to the above, there is a problem that it is necessary to additionally provide an electric storage device such as a battery or a capacitor on the electronic device.

  Similarly, even when a host that stops power supply is used, the electronic device stores the operation mode during the power supply stop period in order to enable the operation mode switching operation of the electronic device. Therefore, there is a problem that an extra power storage device or nonvolatile storage device needs to be provided in the electronic device.

  On the other hand, some hosts do not stop power supply to the interface even if the electronic device is removed. In this case, the electronic device once creates an “electronic device removed state” for switching the operation mode, and after the host recognizes that, the electronic device autonomously re-enters the original “electronic device attached” Need to be restored. However, since the electronic device side could not detect the “moment when the host recognized that the electronic device was removed” in the past, an operation mode switching mechanism that functions reliably in any host cannot be realized. It was.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can switch the operation mode while being connected to the host, regardless of the connection to any host.

An electronic device according to the present invention is an electronic device having a plurality of operation modes including a detachment detection terminal for providing information on detachment of itself to the host as a data interface with the host,
In order to provide the host with the presence / absence of attachment / detachment, the terminal resistance variable means for changing the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal, and the presence / absence of attachment / detachment to the host when switching the operation mode And terminal resistance control means for controlling the terminal resistance variable means.

  Further, in another electronic device according to the present invention, the terminal resistance control means controls the terminal resistance variable means so that the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal is in a disconnected state prior to switching of the operation mode. The resistance value is changed to a resistance value, and after switching the operation mode, the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal is restored to the resistance value in the connected state.

  Further, in another electronic device according to the present invention, the terminal resistance control means controls the terminal resistance variable means after switching the operation mode so that the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal is a resistance value in an unconnected state. In this case, the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal is restored to the resistance value in the connected state.

  In addition, another electronic device according to the present invention includes an operation mode transmission terminal for transmitting the operation mode of the host to the host as a data interface with the host. The operation mode is transmitted.

Further, another electronic device according to the present invention includes a power supply terminal for receiving power supply from the host as a data interface with the host,
When the power supply from the power supply terminal stops, the terminal resistance control means controls the terminal resistance variable means to change the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal from the resistance value in the non-connected state to the resistance in the connected state. It is characterized by changing to a value.

Another electronic device according to the present invention includes a power supply attachment / detachment detection terminal that receives power supply from the host as a data interface with the host,
In order to maintain the state of the operation mode, a power source that supplies power to the power supply attachment / detachment detection terminal is used.

Further, another electronic device according to the present invention includes an operation state confirmation terminal for confirming an operation state of the host as a data interface with the host,
When it is confirmed that the operation state confirmation terminal is in a reconnectable operation state after the host is in an unconnected operation state, the terminal resistance control unit is configured to change the terminal resistance variable unit. And the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal is restored to the connected resistance value.

  In another electronic device according to the present invention, the plurality of operation modes to be switched include a 16-bit PC card mode and a CardBus mode, a high-speed operation mode and a power saving mode, a 2.5 GHz mode and a 5 GHz mode, and an encryption mode. It includes one or more of a mode and a non-encrypted mode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device operation mode switching method comprising, as a data interface with a host, an attachment / detachment detection terminal for providing information on the attachment / detachment of the host to the host, and a plurality of operation modes. An operation mode switching method of an electronic device,
At the time of switching the operation mode, a terminal resistance changing procedure in which the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal is set to a resistance value in a non-connected state, a switching procedure for switching the operation mode, and a resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal being restored to a connected resistance value It carries out in order of the terminal resistance restoration procedure to perform.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device operation mode switching method comprising, as a data interface with a host, an attachment / detachment detection terminal for providing information on the attachment / detachment of the host to the host, and a plurality of operation modes. An operation mode switching method of an electronic device,
At the time of switching the operation mode, a switching procedure for switching the operation mode, a terminal resistance changing procedure for setting the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal to a resistance value in a non-connected state, and restoring the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal to a resistance value in a connection state It carries out in order of the terminal resistance restoration procedure to perform.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device operation mode switching method comprising, as a data interface with the host, an operation mode transmission terminal for transmitting the operation mode to the host. The present operation mode is transmitted.

  In addition, another electronic device operation mode switching method according to the present invention includes a plurality of operation modes to be switched as a 16-bit PC card mode and a CardBus mode, a high-speed operation mode and a power saving mode, and a 2.5 GHz mode. And 5 GHz mode, and one or more of encryption mode and non-encryption mode.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device capable of switching the operation mode while being connected to the host regardless of the connection to any host.

That is, when switching the operation mode, the electronic device according to the present invention switches the operation mode after changing the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal that provides information on its attachment / detachment to the host to the resistance value of the unconnected state. Later, the procedure of restoring the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal to the resistance value of the connected state, or first, after switching the operation mode, the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal is once set to the resistance value of the non-connected state, and then Since one of the procedures to restore the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal to the resistance value of the connected state is performed, when this operation is viewed from the host side, the electronic device is temporarily removed, and the electronic device in a different operation mode is It looks the same as the newly installed one. Therefore, on the host side, the operation mode switching of the electronic device according to the present invention can be processed only by following a normal electronic device attaching / detaching procedure defined in the PC Card Standard standard without performing any special processing.
Thereby, the operation mode switching of the electronic device applicable to any host can be realized.

  In another electronic device according to the present invention, when the power supply from the power supply terminal that receives power supply is stopped, the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal is automatically changed from the non-connected state to the connected resistance value. Therefore, when switching the operation mode, even when the electronic device once sets the attachment / detachment detection terminal to the non-connected resistance value, even if the host stops supplying power to the electronic device, the electronic device automatically Since the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal is restored to the resistance value in the connected state, the host that detects this resumes power supply, and as a result, the electronic device can reconnect to the host.

Here, as a terminal resistance variable means included in the electronic device for controlling the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal, the resistance value is automatically set to the initial state when power is not supplied from the host, such as a relay. If a returning device is used, a mechanism for restoring the connected resistance value can be easily implemented.
Therefore, it is possible to realize a mechanism for an electronic device that stops power supply from the host to autonomously return to the original connection state without mounting an extra circuit such as a power storage device.

  Another electronic device according to the present invention includes, as a data interface, a power supply attachment / detachment detection terminal that receives power supply from a host in addition to the power supply terminal, and supplies power to the power supply attachment / detachment detection terminal. Therefore, even when the host that detects this operation stops power supply to the electronic device when the interface is switched, the electronic device uses the power supply of the power supply attachment / detachment detection terminal. The operation mode can be maintained.

In general, such a state storage mechanism can be easily obtained by using a relay circuit or the like that keeps an on state by continuously supplying a current to its own solenoid once the on state is established, such as a self-holding relay. Can be implemented.
Therefore, a mechanism for maintaining the operation mode of the electronic device whose power supply from the host is stopped can be realized without adding an extra circuit such as a nonvolatile memory device or a power storage device.

  Further, another electronic device according to the present invention includes an operation state confirmation terminal for confirming the operation state of the host as a data interface, and connects the attachment / detachment detection terminal when the host is in an operation state in which reconnection is possible. When the electronic device is switched to the operation mode, even if the host that detects this does not stop supplying power to the electronic device, the host will restart after recognizing the removal of the electronic device. The normal procedure of connection processing can be reliably realized.

  Depending on the data interface standard, the data communication terminal can be used as the operation state confirmation terminal. For example, in a data interface with a signal called wait that forces the electronic device to suspend the signaling procedure from the host, if the electronic device sends a wait signal to the host, the host Normally, the state of the signal to the electronic device is not changed, but if the host recognizes that the electronic device has been removed, the host sets the state of the signal to the electronic device to the initial state regardless of the state of the wait signal. Return to. In such a data interface, whether or not the host recognizes that “the electronic device has been removed” by monitoring the state change of the signal from the host while outputting the wait signal. In addition, it is possible to detect whether or not a reconnectable state has been reached.

  Even in the case of such a data interface, the operation of the host is still defined in the PC Card Standard standard. Therefore, the electronic device according to the present invention can be connected to any host. Can be applied.

Hereinafter, typical examples of an electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic device that is a typical embodiment of the present invention, and shows the structure of an electronic device having a plurality of operation modes adopting the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an electronic device according to the present invention, which has an interface conforming to the PC Card Standard standard for connection with the host 102.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 102 denotes a host capable of controlling an electronic device having an interface conforming to the PC Card Standard standard, and is connected to the electronic device 101 based on the interface conforming to the PC Card Standard standard. .

  In FIG. 1, reference numerals 103 to 107 denote 68-terminal card type interfaces defined in the PC Card Standard standard, and are used for information transmission between the host 102 and the electronic device 101. Among these interfaces, 103 includes a power supply terminal for receiving power supply from the host 102 and an operation state confirmation terminal for confirming the operation state of the host 102.

  Of these interfaces, four interfaces 104, 105, 106, and 107 indicate terminals called CD1, CD2, VS1, and VS2, respectively. These four terminals allow the host 102 to recognize whether or not the electronic device 101 is connected to the host 102, and if so, what kind of electronic device it is. It is an attachment / detachment detection terminal used for the purpose.

  Among these four terminals, the standard stipulates that the host 102 side must always be applied with a potential on the host 102 side of the terminals CD1 and CD2 in order to detect attachment / detachment of the device 101. That is, the two terminals CD1 and CD2 are also terminals that function as power supply attachment / detachment detection terminals (power supply connection terminals).

  The names of the four terminals are those used when the interface operates in the 16-bit PC card mode, and may be called different names in other modes. In FIG. 4, these four terminals are represented by the above terminal names regardless of the operation mode.

  Here, according to the PC Card Standard standard, when it is detected that both end points of the electronic device 101 are grounded for the two terminals of CD1 and CD2, or one end point of the electronic device 101 is grounded. When it is detected that the other end point on the electronic device 101 side is connected to one of the two terminals VS1 and VS2, the host 102 recognizes that the electronic device 101 is in a connected state.

  At this time, if the two terminals of CD1 and CD2 are grounded at either end of the electronic device 101, the electronic device 101 operates in accordance with the 16-bit PC card standard, and the two terminals of CD1 and CD2 If any one of the end points on the electronic device 101 side is connected to one of the terminals VS1 and VS2, the host 102 recognizes that the electronic device 101 operates in accordance with the CardBus standard. That is, the terminals CD1, CD2, VS1, and VS2 also function as operation mode transmission terminals for transmitting the current operation mode of the electronic device 101 to the host 102.

  In FIG. 1, 108 is a signal control unit on the electronic device 101 side, and 109 is a signal control unit on the host 102 side. The signal control units 108 and 109 exchange signals with each other via the interfaces 103 to 107. Each of the signal control units 108 and 109 has the ability to process signals of two standards, “16-bit PC card mode” and “CardBus mode”.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 110 denotes a relay that changes the resistance value of a terminal CD1, which is one of the attachment / detachment detection terminals, in order to provide the host 102 with or without the electronic device 101 attached / detached. In the initial state of the relay 110, the relay 110 is in an ON state, and there is conduction between the terminal IN and the terminal OUT, indicating that the electronic device 101 is in a resistance value in a connection state with the host 102. Here, when a voltage is applied to the terminal OFF of the relay 110 by the signal control unit 108, the conduction between the terminal IN and the terminal OUT is cut off, indicating that the electronic device 101 is not connected to the host 102. When the signal control unit 108 lowers the voltage at the terminal 110 of the relay 110 or lowers the power supply voltage, the relay 110 returns to the initial state (the state with conduction), and the electronic device 101 is in the connection state with the host 102. Restore. By using the relay 110, it is possible to realize a mechanism for the electronic device 101 whose power supply from the host 102 is stopped autonomously to return to the original connection state without mounting an extra circuit such as a power storage device. .

  Here, the relay 110 constitutes terminal resistance variable means for changing the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal in order to provide the host 102 with or without attachment / detachment of the electronic device 101, and the signal control unit 108 switches the operation mode. At this time, in order to provide the host 102 with or without the electronic device 101 being attached or detached, terminal resistance control means for controlling the relay 110 serving as the terminal resistance variable means is configured.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 111 denotes a self-holding relay. In the initial state of the self-holding relay 111, the self-holding relay 111 is in an OFF state, and there is no conduction between the terminal IN and the terminal OUT. When a voltage is applied to the terminal ON of the self-holding relay 111 by the signal control unit 108, conduction occurs between the terminal IN and the terminal OUT. Once the self-holding relay 111 is in a conductive state, even if the voltage at the terminal ON is lowered, as long as a current continues to flow between the terminal IN and the terminal OUT, the conduction between the terminal IN and the terminal OUT is established. Is not blocked. In order to cut off the conduction between the terminal IN and the terminal OUT, the signal control unit 108 applies a voltage to the terminal OFF of the self-holding relay 111 or eliminates the potential difference between the terminal IN and the terminal OUT. It is necessary to create a state where no current flows.

  In this way, the circuit of the self-holding type relay 111 that keeps the on state by continuously supplying current to its own solenoid keeps the conduction state by the current itself between the terminal IN and the terminal OUT. No external power supply is required for maintenance. Therefore, if the self-holding relay 111 is used as a mechanism for maintaining the operation mode of the electronic device 101 whose power supply from the host 102 is stopped, an extra circuit such as a nonvolatile storage device or a power storage device can be added. Can be realized.

  Here, the terminal CD2 and the terminal VS1 function as a power supply attachment / detachment detection terminal that receives power supply from the host 102, and the self-holding relay 111 uses the power supplied to the power supply attachment / detachment detection terminal. Since the state of the operation mode of the device 101 is maintained, even when the host 102 that detects the switching of the interface operation mode stops the power supply to the electronic device 101, the electronic device 101 is connected to the power supply attachment / detachment detection terminal. An operation mode can be maintained using a power supply.

  In FIG. 1, 112 is an OR circuit. The voltage is applied to the OFF terminal of the relay 110 only when a voltage is applied to either the “16-bit PC card mode” terminal, the “CardBus mode” terminal, or both terminals of the signal control unit 108. It is connected.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 113 denotes a resistor that connects a power supply terminal included in the interface 103 and the relay 110. Since the power source of the electronic device 101 depends entirely on the power source from the host 102, if the power supply from the host 102 is lost, naturally, the power supply to the relay 110 is lost and the relay 110 is automatically in the initial state ( The electronic device 101 is connected to the host 102.

  FIG. 2 shows a list of 68 terminals defined in the PC Card Standard standard, which is defined in the PC Card Standard standard as an embodiment of an electronic device having a plurality of operation modes adopting the present invention. It is the list which showed the name of the terminal of an interface. Note that what is shown in the list of FIG. 2 is the correspondence between the terminal numbers and the terminal names, ie, signal names, in the 16-bit PC card mode and the CardBus mode.

  The interfaces 104, 105, 106, and 107 shown in FIG. 1, that is, the terminals CD1, CD2, VS1, and VS2, respectively, have terminal numbers P36 (signal name “CD1 #” in 16-bit PC card mode and signal name in CardBus mode) in FIG. “CCD1 #”), terminal number P67 (signal name “CD2 #” in 16-bit PC card mode, signal name “CCD2 #” in CardBus mode), terminal number P43 (signal name “VS1 #” in 16-bit PC card mode) , CardBus mode signal name “CVS1”) and terminal number P57 (16-bit PC card mode signal name “VS2 #”, CardBus mode signal name “CVS2”).

  In addition, the host 102 and the electronic device 101 set the potentials of some of the 68 terminals to either an active level or an inactive level according to the procedure specified in the PC Card Standard standard. Thus, mutual information is transmitted.

  In the following description of the embodiment, as an operation state confirmation terminal for confirming the operation state of the connection partner, for example, terminal number P16 (16-bit PC) is used for transmitting information indicating an interrupt from the electronic device 101 to the host 102. In the case of the 16-bit PC card mode, the signal name OE # (terminal) is used to transmit information indicating a data read request from the host 102 using the signal name IREQ # in the card mode and the signal name CINT # in the CardBus mode. In the CardBus mode, CIRDY # (terminal number P20) is used in the CardBus mode, and the host 102 that sent the data read request to the electronic device 101 is set in a response waiting state. In the case of the 16-bit PC card mode, the signal name WA T # (the terminal number P59), in the case of CardBus mode shows an example of using the signal name CTRDY # a (terminal number P53).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a terminal connection state viewed from the host side when the electronic device according to the present invention is brought into a state electrically equivalent to a state of being temporarily removed from the host. , Is an example showing a state of a terminal such that the host 102 recognizes that “the electronic device 101 is not connected”. In FIG. 3, the terminal CD1 which is one of the attachment / detachment detection terminals is in an open state. In this embodiment, the state is equivalent to a state in which the relay 110 of the electronic device 101 in FIG. 1 is turned off.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a terminal connection state when viewed from the host side when connected to the host in the 16-bit PC card mode as another embodiment of the electronic device of the present invention. This is an example of a terminal state that recognizes that the bit PC card standard electronic device 101 is connected. In FIG. 4, terminals CD1 and CD2, which are attachment / detachment detection terminals and operation mode sending terminals, are both grounded. In this embodiment, the state is equivalent to the case where the relay 110 of the electronic device 101 in FIG. 1 is in the ON state and the self-holding relay 111 is in the ON state.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a terminal connection state as seen from the host side when the electronic device of the present invention is connected to the host in the CardBus mode, as another embodiment of the present invention. This is an example of a terminal state that recognizes that “device 101 is connected”. In FIG. 5, the terminal CD1 which is the attachment / detachment detection terminal and the operation mode sending terminal is grounded, and the terminal CD2 and the terminal VS1 are connected. In this embodiment, the state is equivalent to the case where the relay 110 of the electronic device 101 in FIG. 1 is in the ON state and the self-holding relay 111 is in the OFF state.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing method for switching the operation mode of the electronic device according to the present invention, and shows an example of the processing method for switching the operation mode of the interface of the electronic device 101 having a plurality of operation modes. Is.
The procedure for switching the operation mode by the electronic device 101 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, the electronic device 101 interrupts the host 102 (step S1). Specifically, the signal control unit 108 of the electronic device 101 in FIG. 1 sets the terminal number P16 in FIG. 2 to an active level. In the 16-bit PC card mode, the terminal IREQ # is set to an active level. In addition, in the CardBus mode, this corresponds to setting the terminal CINT # to the active level.

Next, the electronic device 101 checks whether or not a data read request has been issued from the host 102 responding to the interrupt (step S2), and when detecting a data read request from the host 102 (YES in step S2), Proceed to the next Step S3.
Specifically, the signal control unit 109 of the host 102 in FIG. 1 that has detected an interrupt from the electronic device 101 performs the terminal OE # (terminal number P09) in FIG. 2 or the terminal IORD # in the 16-bit PC card mode. This corresponds to setting (terminal number P44) to the active level, and in the CardBus mode, setting terminal CIRDY # (terminal number P20) to the active level.

Next, the electronic device 101 that has detected the data read request from the host 102 performs an operation of causing the host 102 to wait for a response (step S3), and proceeds to step S4.
Specifically, in the 16-bit PC card mode, the signal control unit 108 of the electronic device 101 in FIG. 1 sets, for example, the terminal WAIT # (terminal number P59) to an active level, and in the CardBus mode. Corresponds to, for example, setting the terminal CTRDY # (terminal number P53) at the initial inactive level.

Next, the electronic device 101 changes the operation mode of the interface to a required operation mode (step S4), and proceeds to step S5.
Specifically, when the signal control unit 108 of the electronic device 101 in FIG. 1 changes to the 16-bit PC card mode, the self-holding relay 111 changes from the OFF state to the ON state and to the CardBus mode. In other words, the ON state is set to the OFF state.

When the self-holding relay 111 of the electronic device 101 is in the OFF state, the state of the terminal of the electronic device 101 viewed from the host 102 is equivalent to the state shown in FIG. 5 (the terminal CD2 and the terminal VS1 are conductive) The operation mode is the CardBus mode.
When the self-holding relay 111 is turned on, the terminal state of the electronic device 101 viewed from the host 102 is equivalent to the state shown in FIG. 4 (the terminal CD2 is grounded), and the operation mode is 16-bit PC. The card mode is indicated.

Here, step S4 constitutes a switching procedure for switching the operation mode of the electronic device 101 to a desired operation mode.
Since the same effect can be obtained at any time before the process of step S4 before step S10, the order of the process for switching the operation mode is described here as long as it is prior to step S10. It is not limited to the ones.

Next, the electronic device 101 temporarily turns off the relay 110 to which the terminal CD1 is connected and sets the terminal CD1 to an open state, thereby creating “a state in which the electronic device 101 has been removed from the host 102” (step S1). S5), the process proceeds to the next step S6.
Specifically, the signal control unit 108 of the electronic device 101 in FIG. 1 raises the potential of the OFF terminal of the relay 110 and sets the relay 110 to the OFF state.

When the relay 110 is opened, the state of the terminal of the electronic device 101 viewed from the host 102 is equivalent to the state shown in FIG. 3 (the terminal CD1 is open), and the electronic device 101 is removed from the host 102. Become visible.
Here, step S5 constitutes a terminal resistance changing procedure in which the resistance value of the terminal CD1, which is one of the attachment / detachment detection terminals, is set to the resistance value in the unconnected state (that is, in the open state in this embodiment).
As a result, the host 102 must either cut off the power supply to the electronic device 101 or interrupt the data read request instructed in step S2 and release the waiting state for a response from the electronic device 101. I will have to.

  Next, the electronic device 101 checks the power supply state from the host 102 (step S6). If the power supply from the host 102 continues (YES in step S6), the process proceeds to step S7. On the other hand, if the power supply is lost (NO in step S6), the process proceeds to step S8.

When the power supply from the host 102 continues (YES in step S6), the electronic device 101 checks whether or not the host 102 has released the response waiting state (step S7). If the host 102 has released the response waiting state (YES in step S7), the process proceeds to step S9. If the host 102 continues to wait for a response (NO in step S7), the process returns to step S6.
Specifically, the operation of detecting that the host 102 has released the response waiting state is performed by the signal control unit 108 of the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1 in the terminal OE # (terminal number P09 in the 16-bit PC card mode). ), The terminal IORD # (terminal number P44) is inactive level, and in the CardBus mode, it is detected that the terminal CIRDY # (terminal number P20) is inactive level. To do.

Next, the electronic device 101 cancels the OFF state of the relay 110, sets the terminal CD1 to the ground state (step S9), and proceeds to step S10.
Here, step S9 constitutes a terminal resistance restoration procedure for restoring the resistance value of the terminal CD1, which is one of the attachment / detachment detection terminals, to the connected resistance value (that is, the ground state in this embodiment).
Specifically, this corresponds to the signal control unit 108 of the electronic device 101 in FIG. 1 reducing the potential of the OFF terminal of the relay 110 to restore the relay 110 to the ON state.

  On the other hand, if the power supply from the host 102 has been stopped (NO in step S6), the terminal CD1 is automatically returned to the initial state, that is, the ON state because the power supply to the electronic device 101 is lost. Proceed to S10.

  Finally, the electronic device 101 starts a reconnection procedure with the host 102 in the newly set operation mode (step S10). Thereby, the operation mode switching of the interface of the electronic device 101 is completed.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, the interface for connecting the host and the electronic device is not limited to the 68-terminal card type interface defined in the PC Card Standard standard. For example, SD CARD, USB, IEEE1394, etc. may be used.

  Further, the switch for switching the terminal CD1 which is one of the attachment / detachment detection terminals to the open state is limited to the switch such as the relay 110 as long as the ground state can be automatically recovered when power supply is lost. For example, it may be a transistor, a CMOS gate, a photocoupler, or the like.

  The operation mode to be changed is not limited to the interface operation mode such as the 16-bit PC card mode or the CardBus mode, but operates with the power supply of the power supply attachment / detachment detection terminal (power supply connection terminal) from the host 102. As long as the state can be maintained, for example, switching between operation modes not related to the interface, such as high-speed operation mode and power saving mode, 2.5 GHz mode and 5 GHz mode, encryption mode and non-encryption mode, etc. You may make it apply.

  In addition, the switch that stores the operation state of the electronic device 101 is not limited to the self-holding relay, but can maintain the state only by the voltage applied to the power supply attachment / detachment detection terminal (power supply connection terminal) from the host 102. As long as it is, for example, a circuit equivalent to a transistor, a CMOS gate, a photocoupler, or the like may be used.

  Further, the operation state confirmation terminal for confirming the operation state of the connection partner is not limited to the terminal OE # (terminal number P09), IORD # (terminal number P44), terminal CIRDY # (terminal number P20), or the like. As long as the reconnectable state can be detected, the terminal WE # (terminal number P15), IOWR # (terminal number P45), REG # (terminal number P61) in the 16-bit card mode. In the CardBus mode, CGNT # (terminal number P15), CDEVSEL # (terminal number P50), CCLK (terminal number P19), or the like may be used.

  In addition, the procedure for confirming the state of the operation state confirmation terminal does not necessarily have to be a response to an interrupt from the electronic device 101, but uses a data read by polling or a response to a bus protocol error. It does not matter.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic device which is a typical Example of this invention. It is the table | surface which showed the name of the terminal of the interface prescribed | regulated to PC Card Standard standard. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a terminal connection state viewed from the host side when the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention is in a state electrically equivalent to a state of being temporarily removed from the host. It is the figure which showed the connection state of the terminal seen from the host side when connecting with a host as 16-bit PC card mode as another Example of the electronic device of this invention. As a further different embodiment of the electronic device of the present invention, it is a diagram showing a connection state of terminals as viewed from the host side when connected to the host in CardBus mode. It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of the processing method of the operation mode switching of the electronic device which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Electronic device having a plurality of operation modes, 102 ... Host, 103 ... Interface (excluding terminals CD1, CD2, VS1, VS2), 104 ... Terminal CD1, 105 ... Terminal CD2, 106 ... Terminal VS1, 107 ... Terminal VS2 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 108 ... Electronic device side signal control part 109 ... Host side signal control part 110 ... Relay, 111 ... Self-holding relay, 112 ... OR (logical sum) circuit, 113 ... Resistor.

Claims (12)

An electronic device having a plurality of operation modes, including a data interface with a host, including a detachment detection terminal that provides information on the detachment of the host to the host,
In order to provide the host with the presence / absence of attachment / detachment, the terminal resistance variable means for changing the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal, and the presence / absence of attachment / detachment to the host when switching the operation mode An electronic device comprising: terminal resistance control means for controlling the terminal resistance variable means.   2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal resistance control unit controls the terminal resistance variable unit to set the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal to a resistance value in a non-connected state before switching the operation mode. And the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal is restored to the connected resistance value after the operation mode is switched.   2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein after the operation mode is switched, the terminal resistance control unit controls the terminal resistance variable unit to temporarily change the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal to a resistance value in an unconnected state. An electronic device characterized in that after changing, the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal is restored to the resistance value in the connected state.   4. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an operation mode transmission means for transmitting the operation mode of the host device to the host as a data interface with the host. And sending the current operation mode. 5. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply terminal that receives power supply from the host as a data interface with the host.
When the power supply from the power supply terminal stops, the terminal resistance control means controls the terminal resistance variable means to change the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal from the resistance value in the non-connected state to the resistance in the connected state. An electronic device characterized by changing to a value. The electronic device according to claim 5, comprising a power supply attachment / detachment detection terminal that receives power supply from the host as a data interface with the host,
In order to maintain the state of the operation mode, an electronic device using a power source fed to the power feeding attachment / detachment detection terminal is used. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising an operation state confirmation terminal for confirming an operation state of the host as a data interface with the host,
When it is confirmed that the operation state confirmation terminal is in a reconnectable operation state after the host is in an unconnected operation state, the terminal resistance control unit is configured to change the terminal resistance variable unit. The electronic device is controlled to restore the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal to the resistance value of the connected state.   8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of operation modes to be switched include a 16-bit PC card mode and a CardBus mode, a high-speed operation mode and a power saving mode, a 2.5 GHz mode and a 5 GHz mode. An electronic device comprising one or more of a mode, a cryptographic mode, and a non-cryptographic mode. An operation mode switching method for an electronic device having an attachment / detachment detection terminal for providing information about attachment / detachment of the host to the host as a data interface with the host and having a plurality of operation modes,
At the time of switching the operation mode, a terminal resistance changing procedure in which the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal is set to a resistance value in a non-connected state, a switching procedure for switching the operation mode, and a resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal being restored to a connected resistance value The method of switching the operation mode of the electronic device, which is performed in the order of the terminal resistance recovery procedure. An operation mode switching method for an electronic device having an attachment / detachment detection terminal for providing information about attachment / detachment of the host to the host as a data interface with the host and having a plurality of operation modes,
At the time of switching the operation mode, a switching procedure for switching the operation mode, a terminal resistance changing procedure for setting the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal to a resistance value in a non-connected state, and restoring the resistance value of the attachment / detachment detection terminal to a resistance value in a connection state The method of switching the operation mode of the electronic device, which is performed in the order of the terminal resistance recovery procedure.   11. The electronic device according to claim 9, further comprising an operation mode transmission means for transmitting the operation mode of the host to the host as a data interface with the host, An electronic device that transmits the operation mode.   12. The operation mode switching method for an electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of operation modes to be switched are a 16-bit PC card mode and a CardBus mode, a high-speed operation mode and a power saving mode, An operation mode switching method for an electronic device, including one or more of a 5 GHz mode and a 5 GHz mode, and an encryption mode and a non-encryption mode.

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